Barcelona still upbeat over Cesc

Incoming president Sandro Rosell is 'convinced' Cesc Fabregas will sign for Barcelona this summer.

The Catalan giants are hoping to persuade Arsenal to sell their skipper during the off-season and have already seen an initial bid rejected.

Despite the north London club's resistance, the 23-year-old is expected to rejoin his boyhood club after reportedly informing Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his desire to return to Spain before heading off to the World Cup.

That has left Rosell to predict that an agreement will be reached between the two clubs.

Rosell recently won the Barcelona presidential elections and will shortly replace Joan Laporta in the Camp Nou hot-seat.

"We are not under any sort of pressure at the moment," said Rosell.

"We have the whole summer to sort this deal out.

"I am convinced that Cesc will be our player by the start of next season. I know what happens in football and I will not be surprised to see stories of other clubs chasing him.

"But we are very calm because the key person in all of this is Cesc himself.

"The only way he will leave Arsenal is if he is joining Barcelona because of his roots."